The List: 15 Apr 1999 (Issue 357)

Must be a busy man, that Jon Carter. What with his numerous British residencies, regular international tours, remixing projects and, of course, a new Monkey Mafia album to work on, it's no wonder he's such a hard man to pin down. Despite becoming over-familiar with his answering machine, perseverance prevailed and The List caught up with him one spring evening as he dashed into his house. A few minutes later, though, and he had to be off again.

Well known for twisted, manic big beats which skip merrily across genres with ne’er a concern, Carter has recorded for Wall of Sound, Heavenly and Deconstruction, both solo and with Monkey Mafia, and is currently working on a number of different projects.

Happily, there’s a new Monkey Mafia album due for completion soon. Since the band left Deconstruction, a new label has not yet been confirmed. ’l'm not saying until we've completely sorted it out, but I can tell you that it won't be with any of the majors.’ says Carter, giving little away. The new album will see a shift from the break beat insanity of their ’15 Steps EP’.

’There will still be beat things in there,’ explains Carter. ’But I’m dealing with a lot darker stuff these days, and we're working with Freddy McGregor, a famous old time reggae star.’

He also has remixes for the likes of the Micronauts to work on and a 7in for Jockey Slut, as well as his DJ residencies for Bugged Out (Liverpool), the Influx boys (Dublin), regular slots at Big Beat Boutique (Brighton and London) and the international Wall of Sound tours. He also has a new residency in Belfast due to start in August. Surely such a lifestyle must induce an unhealthy amount of tiredness?

Work mi hobby: John Carter

’I get jetlag even if I don’t go anywhere, just because of the hours,‘ he admits. ’l’m working in the studio until midday, then out again in the evening - I get jetlag anywhere. Long flights are actually quite cool because it’s a chance to get some sleep.’

No stranger to Caledonia, Carter has regularly guested with Monkey Mafia at the Arches alongside the Soma boys and is on good terms with Scottish deck wizard Krash Slaughta. This return sees him guesting with James Halroyd, however, at trance and techno club Sublime. Not renowned for hosting big beat sets, how does he envisage the gig?

’I have loads of hard techno stuff and some really weird warped house,’ he explains. ’I think that’s why I keep getting work: I can apply myself to any crowd from straight hip hop, to reggae crowds to, you know, whatever. But I got into this scene in the first place by surprising people. I just like open-minded crowds. That’s it, end of story.’ (Simone Baird)

Take this as an example: he’s such a vrnyl fiend that, when his family was pennrless and he was working three JObS, including delivering pizzas, he still spent all his money on records. With three kids to feed and a wrfe who was none too happy his behavrour, Fresh would sneak the new records he'd bought into his garage in the middle of the night so she wouldn't know. ’We never had a fucking dime', says the 'tached trooper. ’I was always buying old records wrth every penny we made, like an idiot. l was out of control man, a real Vinyl junky.’

To say he's an obsessive is a wild understatement. With what he describes as ’billions' of records and an unrivalled collection of crazily rare analogue instruments and modulator synths, Fresh says proudly that he's got a huge arsenal to work With 'I've got the goods; I can draw on my music and my instruments for the rest of my life’. For his legendary essential mix for Radio One last year, he spent over 200 hours putting the set together: that's

more than a whole week selecting and mixing tunes. Bet the wrfe wasn't too chuffed wrth that either.

He's released over 100 records, from his ferocrously deep hard techno under a variety of narres (which earned him the title 'The American Aphex Twin’) to his current future funk electro hip hop break fest seen on his new album The Last True Fami/y Man. With more than a decade in the biz he's managed to

get around a bit, from getting name- check on a Public Enemy album, ' running a whole host of labels, I producing for Grandmaster Flash to ‘

being the famous sweary bloke on Fatboy Slim’s album. With the new LP,

Fresh has been tarred wrth the big beat -

brush by revrewers, but it's not a term he's madly happy about.

'l set my own agenda. Big beat to me is "Twrst And Shout”, Chubby Checker

or 19605 surfing gurtar music With

beats. I play a lot of old funk and hip hop and I don't really consider that big beat. It’s roller disco funk breakdancrng mUSlC '

Call it what you like, the guy’s fresh. (Rory Weller) a; Freddy Fresh ’5 album The Last True Family Man’ is out now on Eye 0.

Club news

SUB CITY RADIO based at Glasgow University’s John Macintyre Building, returns to the airwaves at midnight on Fri 23 Apr. The student-run station, now in its sixth year, will broadcast non-stop until Fri 14 May on 106.2 FM, and features a mix of speech-based and music shows. Highlights include a nightly ’Mix At Six' show with guest DJs such as Weatherall, Mixmaster Mike and The Scratch Perverts; a Tunnel slot (9.30pm on Fridays); a Slam/Soma slot (10pm, Sat) and Scotland's first ever gay radio show ’Sex In Scotland’ at 6pm on Thu. There’s also a clubby round-up show with The List’s Rory Weller every Wed at 7.30pm. Log on to http://www.src.gla.ac. uk/publications/radio for a full timetable of broadcast times and dates. To contact the station, call 0141 330 5360.

SCOTTISH DMC HEAT will take place at Scratch at The Venue, Sat 19 Jun. This is the chance for all the local DJs put their money where their mouths are and flex their turntable skills. Application forms are available from Underground Solu'shn, 9 Cockburn Street, 226 2242.

REPUBLIC IS A new heavy rock and indie club at Wilkie House, launched by the promoters of similar nights at the now-closed Rocking Horse in Edinburgh’s Victoria Street. They promise a night of the best in heavy rock, punk, goth, indie, industrial and hardcore — and anything else in- between. 'We are trying to get rid of the snobbery against these kinds of nights, kick out the divisions between all these kinds of music and get everyone on one dance floor,’ says promoter John Edwards.

Other clubs including Dust and The Mission have also made successful re- launches since the closure of the Rocking Horse, this time at Studio 24. LUVELY'S RESIDENCE AT Wilkie House draws to a close after over three years at the Cowgate venue. The plan is for the club to visit various venues around the city. As yet details are sketchy, but The List will keep you posted. According to promoter George Paterson: ’The initial intention of taking the club to a different venue each month has taken longer than expected to organise, but we will announce something soon.’